China News Service, Quzhou, January 30 (Dong Yixin) "Some time ago, we sent 500 kilograms of Hericium to German customers, and are currently checking with them the details of the cooperation agreement with an annual purchase volume of 40 tons. This is what we received The largest overseas order is also a New Year harvest." As the Lunar New Year approaches, in Changshan County, Quzhou City, Zhejiang Province, Han Hongyi, general manager of Zhejiang Tianquan Biotechnology Co., Ltd. and member of the Changshan County Branch of Jiusan Society, said in an interview with China News Service.
Han Hongyi (first from left), a member of the Changshan County branch of Jiusan Society, is in Gufang. Photo provided by the interviewee himself
Changshan is the westernmost mountainous county in Zhejiang Province and has been named a global green city. In 1979, the Changshan County Microbiology Factory succeeded in cultivating Hericium erinaceus using the residues of wine making from King Kong thorns, and selected the "Changshan Hericium No. 99" strain, which has since been commercialized. In 2000, Changshan was named the "Hometown of Edible Fungi in China" "; Up to now, there are more than 30 local edible fungi producers, with a cultivation volume of more than 20 million sticks (bags).
"My father is from Shaanxi. He came to Zhejiang to 'take root' because he was engaged in research and development of the application of gastrodia germinating bacteria. Later, he 'went overseas' to work in the sales of edible fungi in Hangzhou. I am considered the 'second generation of fungi' ." Han Hongyi joked.
In 2020, Han Hongyi came to Changshan from Hangzhou to "establish his own business." At present, the company he runs has nearly 500 acres of edible fungi production area in Changshan, including a self-operated base and three outsourcing bases.
"Changshan has a long history of growing edible fungi, and both the base of fungus farmers and the planting area are large. For this reason, we have begun to link more farmers to participate in the cultivation of edible fungi." He said.
Taking Hericium erinaceus as an example, mushrooms begin to bloom in mid-November every year, and the production period ends at the end of April of the following year. The production period lasts for 6 months, with 3 to 4 crops of mushrooms. Local farmers can grow Hericium erinaceus to increase their income after the busy work of traditional agriculture.
"Overseas, the nutritional value of Hericium erinaceus is highly recognized. It can be said that we don't have to worry about sales or price." Han Hongyi said that in 2023, the average annual selling price of fresh Hericium erinaceus he handles will be 10 yuan to 15 yuan per catty. The purchase price of dried Hericium erinaceus for deep processing is about 35 yuan per catty, and the purchase volume is relatively large in the United States, Germany, Canada and other countries and regions.
In response to the market's demand for organic food, Han Hongyi also cooperated with expert teams such as Jilin Agricultural University and Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences to try to use Malaysian palm meal instead of cottonseed hulls as one of the raw materials for mushroom sticks, aiming to make various data indicators of Hericium erinaceus more efficient. Comply with international standards.
In the third quarter of 2023, the International Edible Fungi Breeding and Industry Promotion Symposium was held in Changshan County. More than 130 academicians, experts and business leaders from 7 countries jointly planned new paths for the development of the edible fungi industry and explored more opportunities in the edible fungi industry. possibility. At the meeting, Han Hongyi, as one of the leading parties, established the Changshan Service Station of the Chinese Mycology Society.
“Now, we have developed compound Hericium capsules (granules), Hericium noodles, Hericium biscuits, cloud sliced Hericium (soft cans), Hericium superfine powder, Hericium solid beverages, Hericium Probiotics, Ganoderma lucidum broken spore powder and other products. In the future, we will introduce more scientific research and social forces to strengthen the Hericium mushroom industry chain," he said. (over)